John Petrie

John Petrie (15 January 1822 – 8 December 1892) was a Scottish-born Australian politician, architect, stonemason and building contractor in Brisbane who became the city's first Mayor.

In 1837 he went to Moreton Bay, where his father had been appointed clerk of works, and accompanied him on explorations to the west and north of Brisbane; he also became a champion oarsman.

The couple had five sons and five daughters:[4] His wife Jane died in Brisbane on 16 December 1896[2] and is buried in the Petrie family plot in Toowong Cemetery.

[1] Following an apprenticeship in the family building and contracting business, John assumed increasing responsibility for its management after his father's blindness in 1848 forced him to retire.

Practical experience and common sense fitted Petrie for laying the sound foundations of municipal administration in Brisbane and for guiding the council in providing public works and services.

A trustee of the Brisbane general cemetery and of Bowen Park and a ranger for protecting native birds on the Enoggera Water Reserve, he was a director of several building societies and of the Queensland Steam Navigation Co. Elected to the North Brisbane School of Arts Committee in 1864 and 1866, he was also an enthusiastic member of the first Masonic lodge in Queensland.